Woodend Sanctuary & Mansion Reviews
Reviews
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![Casey]()
Casey Sent on 01/22/2025Perfect Venue for nature lovers
We had our wedding at Woodend Sanctuary and Mansion in Chevy Chase, MD, and it was truly an unforgettable experience. The venue is a perfect combination of an elegant historic mansion surrounded by lush woods and a stunning nature preserve. The natural beauty of the property is unmatched, and it created the most magical atmosphere for our special day.
The staff at Woodend was absolutely incredible to work with. Beatrice, in particular, was so informative and patient, answering all of our questions and ensuring that every detail was considered during the planning process. They were excellent at helping us bring our vision to life while ensuring the property protocols were followed. On the wedding day, the day-of staff went above and beyond to make sure everything ran smoothly, giving us peace of mind to fully enjoy our celebration.
We got married in October, and the greenery and landscaping were simply perfect. Our ceremony took place in the grove, with the meadow serving as a breathtaking backdrop. It was a scene straight out of a dream. The layout of the venue was also a standout feature—it allowed our guests to take a journey through the mansion, experiencing its charm and elegance at every turn.
Woodend Sanctuary and Mansion is truly a one-of-a-kind venue, and we couldn’t have imagined a more perfect place to say “I do.” If you’re looking for a wedding venue that combines natural beauty, historic elegance, and outstanding service, this is the place. We’re so grateful for the incredible memories we created here! -
![Ben]()
Ben F. Sent on 10/29/2024A Gorgeous fall wedding venue
Woodend is a beautiful fall wedding venue! The staff were super friendly, professional, and efficient with planning logistics. When we booked with Woodend, they introduce us to a variety of vendor options (from caterers and florists to DJs and wedding planning/coordinators) that really reduced the challenges of planning my partner Paroma and I's wedding. The final venue price value for the location was incredible. We would absolutely recommend booking your wedding here. -
![Olivia]()
Olivia Sent on 06/15/2024Perfect venue!
Woodend was the PERFECT venue for our wedding! The grove and mansion are beautiful spaces, you really don’t need a lot of decor to make them look nice. The tent offered the perfect indoor-outdoor experience and piece of mind as a backup plan. The location is wonderful - it feels like the house is secluded and private, but you are only about 8 minutes from a wide range of hotel options in Bethesda for guests.
Beatriz was great to work with, she answered all our questions and was very communicative.
Not only did Woodend fit our wedding vision, but we also loved that we could support a good cause at the same time.
There are some restrictions to consider, but they were very upfront about them and none were dealbreakers for us. I would also note you have to choose from their list of partner caterers - we went with Corcoran and loved their food and service! Overall, we would highly recommend Woodend Sanctuary for a wedding. -
![Sarah]()
Sarah Sent on 06/04/2024Beautiful & Charming
Woodend is such a lovely venue - we had a fantastic time there for our reception. Even though it rained (heavily), the tent held up admirably, and it was really quite peaceful and relaxing. The coordinator and director are very easy to work with, and our wedding went off without a hitch. -
![Emily]()
Emily Sent on 11/07/2022Stunning & great value
I'm so glad that we chose Woodend! I wanted to get married in a sort of historic, beautiful house or museum; my husband wanted to get married in the middle of the woods, surrounded by trees. Woodend gave us both. On top of that, we wanted to have a baraat--an Indian procession with a horse--and we were concerned that, as a nature sanctuary, they would not go for it. But Beatriz was so flexible and made it work! She's also very responsive by email. We were blessed with the best weather that has ever occurred in June in DC, which really showcased the beauty of the place (though the rainy day contingency was well-thought-out and would have worked too.) I loved how much sprawling acreage we had, so we could have a baraat, lawn games, and even just different nooks for guests to wander off to. Also, compared to the other outdoor venues we visited in the DMV, this was by far the best value (can't wait to file my taxes and get that write-off!) since it's a non-profit. The location is so convenient--close enough to downtown Bethesda that our guests didn't have to worry about a long ride back to their hotels. Our only concern was the max capacity of 170, but honestly, it was probably a blessing in disguise to have to reign in the guest list. Strong recommend! -
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![Allison]()
Allison Sent on 07/25/2022A beautiful venue
We had the most amazing experience at Woodend. We knew we wanted an outdoor ceremony, and when we saw the Hemlock Grove we fell in love. The trees and flowers make Woodend such a gorgeous location for a wedding, and the air-conditioned tent for the reception felt relaxed and comfortable but also elegant at the same time. The historic mansion is great too - with rooms for both the bridal party and groomsmen to get ready, and plenty of space in the hall for an epic dance party! Beatriz at Woodend was helpful and responsive, and we also loved supporting the mission of the Audobon Society. It was the perfect venue for us! -
![Sarah]()
Sarah Sent on 05/25/2022It has it all!
After touring many different venues in the DC area, we were blown away by the beauty of Woodend and all that it has to offer. The grounds and mansion are beautiful and comfortable and offer a great Plan B in case of rain. We did end up needing to use the tent instead of the Hemlock grove for our ceremony, but we have absolutely no complaints about it. You still get a stunning immersive outdoor feeling while staying comfortably dry! :) Beatriz was wonderful to work with, she is very responsive and graciously accommodated our unique requests. We highly recommend Woodend! -
![Natalie]()
Natalie Sent on 09/29/2021Woodend was perfect for our wedding day!
I was looking for an outdoor venue in DC where we could have privacy (no other events/visitors at the same time), stay past 11 pm, a back-up plan in case of rain, and more than 100 guests. Woodend fit the bill perfectly with everything I was looking for and more!!!
I loved having the ability to be at Woodend all day, including getting ready with our wedding parties in the designated rooms, first look photos, our ceremony in the grove, and the reception + dancing in the tent and mansion.
Plus, Beatriz was amazing to work with. I can't imagine how many emails she must receive from other couples, but she always got back to us in a timely fashion and she was very organized with helpful FAQs and links for us to reference. We were also planning the wedding from far away (we live on the west coast) and Beatriz accommodated MULTIPLE venue visits/tours - first with our parents, and then with my fiance and me when we were in town.
I'm also thank so glad that our wedding was able to contribute to the Audubon Naturalist Society’s mission. Thank you Beatriz and the Woodend team!! -
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Erin Sent on 08/19/2021
Breathtaking beauty at Woodend Sanctuary and Mansion
Woodend Sanctuary and Mansion was the absolutely perfect setting for our outdoor wedding and ceremony. We chose to have our ceremony in the cedar grove facing a gorgeous field of summer wild flowers, followed by our reception in the tent and dancing in the mansion. The beauty of the property and the grounds was just astounding, and being able to support the mission of the Audubon Naturalist Society was so important to us. Beatriz, the site manager, was extremely responsive, professional, and fantastic to work with. The recommended vendors were also incredible. We worked with Main Event Catering and Elegance and Simplicity for floral design, lighting, and day-of-coordinating. They were the dream team!! They all worked with us every step of the way, and everything was just more perfect than I could have ever imagined. -
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![Steve]()
Steve Sent on 12/29/2020Dream Venue
Woodend Mansion was the first and last wedding venue that we checked out when planning our wedding. We immediately knew it was the right place. The mansion, the grove, the tent, everything was immaculate the day of our wedding. Most importantly, Beatriz was incredibly helpful, informative, responsive, and pleasant in helping us organize everything. I can't say enough about how wonderful this venue is--especially at a great price. We're both incredibly grateful to have married here. -
![Amy]()
Amy M. Sent on 08/07/2020A Microwedding Dream
Selecting Woodend for our microwedding was by far one of the best decisions I think we will ever make. Not only is it beautiful, secluded and historic, but Beatriz and her entire team are thoughtful, kind and so wonderfully helpful. If you're starting to plan your COVID wedding, this is a winning decision. Highly recommend Spilled Milk Catering for all food/rentals as well - they know the space like the back of their hands! -
![Carol]()
Carol Sent on 12/22/2019Magical Winter Wedding at Woodend
Woodend was the perfect location for our December 2019 wedding. My husband Greg and I love the mission of the Audubon Naturalist Society, and even though we were getting married in the winter (and not using the outdoor space), the setting proved magical for our holiday-themed nuptials. The folks at Woodend, especially Beatriz and Kathy, became part of my "squad," and helped our wedding become one of the best moments of our lives! -
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![Allison]()
Allison Sent on 12/09/2019Best of both worlds
I absolutely fell in love with our venue! We were able to have an outdoor ceremony and indoor dinner and dancing! I love their bridal suite with an amazing mirror and a great balcony we could do our first look on! The attached tent was great! -
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Janice Sent on 12/08/2019
Perfect, gorgeous venue
This venue was PERFECT for our morning fall wedding. We wanted to choose a venue that had great fall color potential, enough space to host a larger wedding, was less than 1 hour from where our families lived, and aligned with our passions and values. Beatriz was so kind, understanding, and experienced. The leaves behind the Hemlock Grove ceremony location turned a beautiful golden yellow for our late October wedding. The beautiful mansion has character due to being the headquarters of the Audubon Naturalist Society. And we loved the ability for our guests to hang out in separate rooms or outside if they didn't want to dance. The balcony in the bridal room is terrific for photos. My only regret is that I didn't try to rent the venue for the entire day and night so we could enjoy it longer! -
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![Andrea]()
Andrea Sent on 10/19/2019The Best Wedding Venue in the Area
We love Woodend! It's a beautiful, welcoming setting that makes for a perfect indoor/outdoor celebration just outside of DC. It feels both intimate and spacious and at the same time, relaxed yet elegant. The staff is excellent to work with and the space is just beautiful. If you're a nature lover, but want to keep your wedding near DC... this is your place. -
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![Rachel]()
Rachel Sent on 09/23/2019See for yourself
Woodend is such a beautiful venue! If you're considering it for your venue, go take a tour and you will be sold on it pretty instantaneously. We luckily didn't have to use it, but they have one of the best rain plans in the DC Metro area.
We even had a great moment where a butterfly flew by during our ceremony!
Beatriz, the site coordinator, was excellent to work with. She was always responsive to emails and helped us to do a second tour of the venue after we booked it so that my mom could check out the venue.
I'll also mention that Woodend gives you a great list of recommended vendors that have all worked at the venue before. This list is so helpful and everyone that we hired knew the venue incredibly well.
We love Woodend so much and are so happy that it was where we got married. -
![Jessica]()
Jessica Sent on 06/09/2019Beautiful Brunch Wedding
Beatriz and everyone at Woodend were amazing to work with for our daytime Brunch wedding. The value of this venue is amazing, as the tent is included. We had amazing weather, but the rain plan at Woodend is also beautiful and was a big part of why we chose them. They are less strict with live music than some other venues we toured, as well. They were flexible with our desire to do a less-traditional format and worked hard to facilitate all of the small details that really made our wedding special and beautiful. Beatriz was always responsive to email and we're so glad we held our wedding here! -
![Tacy]()
Tacy Sent on 05/20/2019An amazing, beautiful place
Woodend was the only wedding venue that we looked at; I was pretty much sold based on what I found online, but touring the gorgeous mansion and grounds solidified that Woodend was the perfect venue for us. We wanted an outdoor venue surrounded by nature, but with the option to move the party indoors if the weather wasn't ideal. The Hemlock Grove looked like the perfect spot for an outdoor, nature-inspired ceremony, and mansion and tent seemed like the ideal place for a Sunday-morning brunch reception.
But here's the thing: It ended up raining pretty much all day on our wedding day. But it didn't really matter one bit. Woodend was still the perfect venue for our wedding. Even though our ceremony had to be relocated under the tent, and our cocktail hour was moved into the mansion, it was still just a lovey, beautiful place to get married. Our guests raved about the setting (the beautiful trees in the background of everything), the ceremony (with the romantic sound of rain pattering on the tent), the adorable children in raincoats on a hike who made a brief appearance in the background of the ceremony (unexpected, but adorable) - everything!
We're also happy that our venue fee supported the Audubon Naturalist Society - definitely a "win" for any couple interested in hosting a more eco-friendly event.
A special thank you for Beatriz for helping us through the easy process of booking and hosting our event. She allowed a few of our vendors to arrive at the venue a little early to set up (really appreciated), and was very kind and accommodating through the whole process.
We're so glad we found Woodend, and we're excited to visit this special place in the future! -
![Alina]()
Alina Sent on 07/12/2018I have always loved Woodend ever since volunteering as a camp counselor there many years ago, so when it was time to choose a wedding venue, it was at the top of my list. The hemlock grove is absolutely breathtaking! We almost didn't get our dream ceremony in the grove due to some rolling thunderstorms, but luckily the rain stopped just in time! The tent is also beautiful, so I'm sure our ceremony would have been just a nice indoors.
Beatriz was very knowledgeable about what would work/what wouldn't work on our day and she was able to provide many helpful suggestions. She was also very responsive even during a busy wedding season, which we really appreciated! Our wedding day went very smoothly and was everything we were hoping for! Also, Woodend has ample free parking, which was a really nice perk for our many guests driving in from Northern Virginia! -
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![Anne]()
Anne Sent on 06/26/2018This is an incredible venue- we absolutely fell in love with it, especially the hemlock grove for the ceremony! We had rain the day of, but the rain location under the terrace tent still looked beautiful! Beatriz at Woodend was such a pleasure to work with, she really looked out for us, was so friendly, and just wanted the day to go perfectly for us. The A/C in the bridal suite, with its private bathroom was SUCH a plus. They have a list of approved vendors, and they all were amazing, so that really saved us from hunting for vendors we might not have liked as much. This place has such a special place in my heart and I can’t believe I got married somewhere so beautiful. -
Wendy Sent on 09/05/2017Among the many event space options in the D.C. area, Woodend Sanctuary is a hidden gem! We started researching venues for our wedding when we stumbled across this beautiful property; we had already visited three other event spaces and had plans to see two more, but after touring Woodend we were sold. The house itself is full of character and the grounds are breathtaking, but the real value of securing Woodend for our wedding ceremony and reception was working with Beatriz and the staff at the Sanctuary. They were helpful, patient and accommodating and went out of their way to make our wedding a truly wonderful event. Good weather allowed us to get married in the grove, located several yards away from the house, but they also offer a fantastic Plan B by having climate controlled tent space covering the patio. If you want a truly original and memorable event, one that will fill you with happy memories the rest of your life, Woodend Sanctuary is the answer; we give them our most enthusiastic recommendation!
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![Saam]()
Saam Sent on 10/13/2015The Woodend isn't just a great place. It's the perfect place if you're going to have a fall wedding. My wife and I just got married there over the weekend and it was something out of a dream. You know, when you're going through the wedding process, everyone always tells you that some things will go wrong and that on the day of, only you and your partner will notice it. I can honestly say that nothing went wrong and everything was perfect. The venue and wedding was everything my wife imagined and then some. We were blessed with great weather and as a result, we were able to have our ceremony and cocktail hour outside as well as have great sunlight for some amazing pictures. The woman who helped us with throughout this whole process was Rebecca Robinson and she was extremely helpful. From the first phone call to the last one, she was prompt, responsible, kind and overly helpful. The on site staff were awesome as well and gave me everything I asked for.
This was the first venue my wife and I looked at and we fell in love with it. My wife has always envisioned an outdoor ceremony in the fall. It's her favorite season and it was the perfect scenario. Seeing her walk down the aisle in the most beautiful outdoor grove that I've ever was worth every penny.
Thank you Rebecca and the rest of the staff at Woodend Sanctuary. You all rock! -
![Lindsay]()
Lindsay Sent on 08/14/2012I can't say enough good things about Woodend. Many of my guests commented on the uniqueness of this venue. If the weather is nice, and you can have the ceremony in the grove, it is absolutely beautiful. We had 170 guests fitted under the tent well (I think we ended up doing 17 tables of 8-12 people at each). We had a band, and the sound was perfect. The only negative is the heat - it got really hot dancing - but what do you expect having a wedding in July?! Rebecca is really easy to work with, too. I HIGHLY recommend Woodend! It is an amazing setting for your special day! -
![huoth]()
Heather Sent on 03/16/2009We held our ceremony at a nearby church and our reception at Woodend. Our wedding was in November, the peak of fall colors, so the surrounding trees made for an incredible backdrop. As well, being off season, we were the only event of the day, which allowed us some flexibility.
Rebecca was wonderful to work with. She was very quick to respond, helpful and friendly. Woodend limits your catering choices to 7 options, which means that you're guaranteed to be working with a caterer who's very familiar with the location. The options offer a great range of prices and tastes and you're sure to find something to suit everyone (we used Windows). It also helped that many of our other vendors had worked Woodend before, and all had wonderful things to say about the location beforehand.
The tented portico fit our ~120 guests very comfortably. We had booked estimating 150 guests, which we were assured would also have fit, but we were happier that our numbers ended up smaller - the tent felt spacious. We used the great room for the dance floor and it was packed all night, but never felt crowded, and there was room for staff to get through comfortably. The Woodend floor manager was very friendly - I didn't meet her until the end of the night, however found out later that she and my mom had spoken periodically to make sure everything was exactly was we wanted it.
Woodend is pricey, but you're paying for a unique setting (and you're sure get lots of compliments on that) and supporting the Audubon society all at the same time. If you can afford it, you definitely won't regret it. -
![Elena]()
Elena Sent on 06/24/2010We looked and looked and looked and at some point thought that perhaps DC (our current hometown) was not going to be the place for us to get married... And then we walked into Woodend!!! The grounds, the outside space for ceremony (almost like a natural beautiful gallery), and the house = so much space and variety for the guests. Rebecca was wonderful and very responsive. The deer also appeared outside during the cocktail hour and the guests were mesmorized. I highly recommend visiting that venue if you are considering getting married. Ample parking is a huge plus. PLUS, you can bring your own booze, that should be great savings. Looking at our photos, we are SO glad we got married at this venue. We had a spring wedding so the greenery and the blooms were lovely. The only little suggestion I have is that they sweep the floors better.
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